Unhappy with the latest version of the Rugby Services Agreement proposed by the Union, Regional Rugby Wales issued a strongly worded statement.

They described the negotiation process as “indescribably tortuous”, claiming it was a case of one step forward, two steps back.

In addition, they labelled the demands of the WRU as “completely unacceptable” and warned of the “stark practical consequences” of having no agreement in place with the governing body.

The WRU responded by declaring they were “saddened and surprised” by the “extremely unhelpful” and “emotionally charged” comments from the regions.

RRW's strongly-worded letter to WRU...

In a separate letter to the governing body, the four regional chairmen warned they would have to scale back on playing costs if a deal could not be done and that there would be consequences with regard to international player release.

They even offered the Union the chance to take them over if they so wished.

This all led to major concerns over the future of professional rugby in Wales, with the regions drawing up contingency plans for life without WRU funding.

Under the old Participation Agreement, the Blues, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons received a total of £6.7m from the Union in return for releasing international players, observing overseas quotas and other issues.

Without that money, the regions would have to cut their cloth according to their new means, which led to speculation there might have to be a fire-sale of star players.

It also raised concerns over the potential impact on Wales.

As part of the old PA, Warren Gatland had access to home-based players for 13 days prior to international campaigns and also for the fourth out-of-window autumn Test.

But in the absence of a deal between the WRU and RRW, no such agreement is in place.

Gatland would only be automatically entitled to call on regional players for the basic five days of preparation laid out under IRB regulations.

And the likelihood is he wouldn’t have them at all for the extra autumn Test, which this year is against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 29.

So there’s a huge amount at stake, making the need for a peace deal all the more pressing.

After a traumatic week, the hope is we might just be nearing the end of one of the most bitter disputes in the history of Welsh rugby.